by Nate Davis, USA TODAY Sports

by Nate Davis, USA TODAY Sports

Lovie Smith won a lot of games for the Chicago Bears, but the NFL is a "what have you done for me lately" league.

Despite going 10-6 in 2012, Smith was fired Monday after nine seasons as Chicago's head coach. Though his resume sports an 84-66 mark, the Bears had reached the playoffs just once since Smith guided them to Super Bowl XLI following the 2006 season (they lost the NFC Championship Game to the rival Green Bay Packers to end the 2010 campaign).

Though Smith was revered by his players, GM Phil Emery may have been more swayed by the team's second-half collapses the past two seasons. The Bears started this season 7-1, but a 3-5 finish - thanks in part to a banged-up defense and spotty offensive play - and unforgiving tiebreakers left them outside the NFC postseason field.

Chicago finished 8-8 in 2011 after a 7-3 start, though injuries to quarterback Jay Cutler and running back Matt Forte were largely to blame for the nosedive.

Emery was hired last offseason and provided depth to the roster while swinging a trade for wideout Brandon Marshall. In the end, it wasn't quite enough to save Smith.

Emery will talk about his decision at a press conference Tuesday.

Given his largely positive track record and rapport with players, Smith could quickly surface as leading candidate for a number of coaching vacancies.